Stipendiary Control “Impossible In N.Z."

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27404, 17 July 1954, Page 4

Stipendiary Control “Impossible In N.Z."

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 16. “There has always been some strong criticism of our system of control—some of it justified, but some of it a little unfair,” said Mi* H. R. Chalmers, president of the New Zealand Racing Conference, in his address to the annual meeting in Wellington today. “With the conference controlling racing throughout the length and breadth of the land, and with up to eight meetings conducted on the same day, in my opinion it is impossible to have stipendiary control as in Australia, as there would be tremendous difficulty in finding men of sufficient experience, and with the wise and impartial judgment necessary if they are to have the powers now held by judicial committees,” he said. It was admitted that there were weaknesses in the constitution of some judicial committees, but it could not be said of the present system that those whose duties it was to prosecute might also sit in judgment. That was one fundamental weakness in the stipendiary stewards’ control of racing. He suggested that there was far less chance, under existing arrangements, of an innocent party being penalised than there might be under stipendiary steward control.

Uniformity of Penalties One frequently heard comment regarding the necessity for uniform penalties, said Mr Chalmers. He considered that one system, which had recently been suggested to him, would do nothing but good.

The system was that district committees might, say. once a year, invite the judicial committees of the clubs in their respective districts, and also the stipendiary stewards who usually covered the district, to meet them. They could have a frank discussion about procedures at judicial inquiries, and also as to what should be the appropriate penalties for the various types and degrees of offences.

The president said that he was also concerned that there had been much comment and criticism of decisions of district committees, both in respect of appeals and of inquiries held by them under Rule 98 (2). “Few district committees have taken advantage of the right they now have to appoint judicial I suggest that greater use of this right may well prove of real benefit to racing administration,” he said. “Too Many Importations” It was particularly pleasing to record that both Gold Scheme and Lancaster, which so creditably represented New Zealand in Australia this season, were sired by New Zealand-bred stallions, said Mr Chalmers. “While on this subject, I may, at the risk of adverse' criticism, say that I am inclined to think that in recent years too many stallions have been imported into the Dominion,” he said. The progeny of New Zealand sires such as Royal Chief, Beau Repaire. Golden Souvenir, Silver-Stick, Beau Vite and Defaulter had done much to prove that this country could produce good sires as well as good racehorses. “And I would like to see more locallybred stallions of proved ability given a better chance, when sent to the stud.”

Last year he had promised to look into the question of giving country clubs some greater representation on the conference, said Mr Chalmers. “I have given this a great deal of thought, and I have come to the conclusion that I cannot suggest any improvement on the present set-up,” he said. Country clubs had a good representation on district committees, and the district committees really controlled racing in their respective districts. It seemed to him that country clubs had adequate . representation through the district committees on the conference, he said.